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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Italy embassy in Iran 'attacked' | Italy embassy in Iran 'attacked' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Dozens of people including pro-government militia have attacked Italy's embassy in Iran, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini says. | |
| Basij militia dressed as civilians hurled stones and shouted "Death to Italy" and "Death to Berlusconi", he told a senate hearing. | Basij militia dressed as civilians hurled stones and shouted "Death to Italy" and "Death to Berlusconi", he told a senate hearing. |
| Iranian media said a protest took place but made no mention of violence. | Iranian media said a protest took place but made no mention of violence. |
| Tensions have been high in Tehran since President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disputed poll win last year. | Tensions have been high in Tehran since President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disputed poll win last year. |
| Correspondents say the alleged attack could be linked to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's pledge of support for Israel and his call for sanctions against Iran to be tightened, during a visit to Jerusalem last week. | |
| Italian energy company ENI has already said it will pull out of Iran. | |
| Italy is Iran's biggest trading partner in the European Union. | |
| Western powers have stepped up pressure on Iran over its nuclear programme, but Tehran says it has started the process of enriching uranium to 20%. | |
| Attendance cancelled | |
| Speaking at a senate committee hearing on Iran, Mr Frattini said about 100 "hostile" protesters threw eggs and stones at the Tehran embassy but were prevented by police from getting inside. | |
| There was "no significant damage", he said. | |
| Protests also took place outside the French and Dutch embassies. | |
| Mr Frattini said Italy had cancelled its attendance on Thursday at events marking the anniversary of the Iranian revolution. |